The Ondo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Tuesday, insisted that Governor Rotimi Akeredolu must transmit power to his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, pending when he returns to his duty post from his treatment.
The Chairman of the PDP in Ondo State, Hon Fatai Adams, made the call at the party’s secretariat during a press conference in Akure.
According to Adams, in the statement titled: “AKEREDOLU MUST TRANSMIT POWER”; “We continue to wish Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu well in his quest to get back to full fitness, however the collective wellbeing of our State and its people is most paramount. The business of administering the state is no tea party or picnic. This demands every attention that can be mustered.
“Much as we know, our Governor is sick or at best recuperating, thus he remains missing in action and our State deserve every attention, this is why the Constitution made provisions for a period like this. We wish to remind Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of his admonition to President Umaru Yar‘Adua when he was ill, he said and we quote, “no matter how much you love your country, it should not be at the detriment of your health. It is not your party or your wife that will determine whether you are capable of handling state matters; it is only your doctors…
“It is now crystal clear that Akeredolu’s doctors have since instructed him to stay away from his office and state, this certainly underscores the fact that he is currently not fit to handle State matters; we urge Mr Governor to please use his then advise to the late President Yar’Adua and again transmit power to the Deputy Governor in the interest of our dear State.
“We also note the total indiscipline and rudeness of some members of the State Executive Council to the office of the Deputy Governor, it merely indicates that the Akeredolu administration is rudderless, not cohesive and bereft of the required legitimacy to remain atop of the affairs of Government any longer.
“We urge Governor Akeredolu to have a sense of history, he must care enough about what history will record about him, truly he is Governor, still ailing, the health of the State cannot be dragged to his sick bed alongside him; posterity will not take kindly to this mean and shortsighted attitude.”
On the allegation of Akeredolu’s signature forgery, the PDP Chairman said that when the power is transmitted to the Deputy Governor, there would be no such issue in the government again.
“Please permit us to immediately underscore the fact that our hearts and prayers are with the Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu over his current health challenges, we continue to wish him well and fervently pray that God in His infinite mercies will heal and restore his health.
“We are however deeply concerned about the ruinous cost the health challenge of the Governor has bestowed upon the State, the most obvious is the emergence of a cabal, largely informal that have seized every initiative, mindlessly driving our State to penury case
“As we speak, there is no clear leader of Government business, the Governor remains on his sick bed, the Deputy Governor is still battling for his political survival, irrespective of President Bola Tinubu’s much proclaimed intervention and our State continue to wander in darkness. Most disturbing, however, is that our finances are suffering as hard earned resources of the State are being pilfered by interest groups within and outside government. This is to the detriment of our development and wellbeing.
On “STATE OF OUR FINANCES”, he said: “We feel duty bound to say that the resources and finances of Ondo State is our commonwealth, therefore concerned and totally interested in its management. For the past years that Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has been governor, not once has any financial update been given to the citizenry.
“Curious and inexplicable expenditure has been the order of the day, therefore we demand for a balance sheet on the finances of our State, this we do because when our Party was in government, due regards was given to giving an account update every month, or at the end of every financial year by the Agagu and Mimiko administrations.
“The issue of the palliative fund totaling N7billion is of absolute concern and interest to the people of Ondo State, who readily declare that no palliative came their way and therefore seeking answers to the administration of the fund.”
